Folding table



W. W. SWETT FOLDING TABLE Ma ay 16, 1939.

Filed June 6, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet l fllfer 71419714925 ATTOR N EYS May16, 1939. ww, sw T 3 2,158,950

FOLDING TABLE Filed June 6, 1938 3 Sheds-Sheet 2 ATTO RN EYS May 16,1939. w, w, sw T 2,158,950

FOLDING TABLE in the purpose intended;

:Fomnze arms Walter W. vSwett,

Takoma .Baik, Md.

,5 Applicationdune' 6, 2193s, serial No." 212,109

' Claims.

'l'hk -invention relates to folding tables and more particularly to'tables'used ior games such as-table tennis-or ping pong orfor dressmaking, :drafting, displaying =samples or other arti- 5 ales-of anynature, for kindergarten-or other school work, or :any other purposerequiring a larse fiatsurface.

i-The -;prime object-oi the invention -is to produce -a ielding table'structure-including a minimum number df separateitop panelsor sectionspresenting a large working area 'when the table is opened'and set up iorand arranged so as to be folded '-'compactlyand i insmall *compass ,soas to /be quickiy 'and easily removed from the is location iri'WhichdFKs' used to a'small-out-ofthe-way storage space.

ia'particular object-is -10 produce a structure of simple- "characterandeconomically -manufactured, yet' 'possessing the requisite stabilityfor {Otherwbjects'and *advantages to be attained will hereinafter-'more-'1ully appear;

I The invention consiSt-sin'the -novel general structure'and-in theparts and combinations and 2 arrangements -01 partsthereof,ashereina'fter described "and set -"forth-in the appended claims,reference being bad to the accompanying draw ingsillustrating -apractical adaptation of the invention, ;and in-*whic h figure 11 'is aperspective 'view of the table opened-'and-set'up or-use;

"Figure "2 is a perspective 'view of the "table m-foidedcondition;" 1

1l"igure3 is a' sideflview of the" table in opened condition; r or I v t"Figure "4 is an end elevation, on'yan enlarged scalalofthe 'tableasshown in i ure"3, portions being broken-awayltoIoreshorten the view;

' V ,iFigure t5fis a section on the linei5 -i5 of Figur.el3,..on4thesame scaleras Figure gi'and portions being .brolienfaway to .foreshortenthe view;

Figure =6..is a view, in side"e1evation,.of the table inlfoldedconditiom-with va portion obthe tableibroken away and shown in -sectionto illus tratethel hingemounting of the drop:-leaf panel;

Figure 77 lis'a fragmentary-,dnyerted plan view of the table topdetached from.;the pedestal name; 1-:

5Q lligurediaisaifragmentary seetionalview taken entoriaboutiline 8- 8.ofi-Figure :7; a

v 9 giszaasection on-the dine 19-8 of [Figure hr-and j 7 7-10 is eadetail aview oi the hinge :end

r section ofla, -foidabie:supportmg leg for ztheadrop leaf, togetherwith associated brace-members for the'leg.

"The :table "as illustrated in the drawings and generallydescribedcomprises a topincluding-a central, relatively narrow panel lwhich is mounted on a pedestal' frame 2 with provision for vertica1movement on said frame, said central panel having relatively-longdrop-lea! panels 3 'hinged :thereto, said drop leaf panels beingprovided with ioldable egs for supporting them in opened position "andthe panels being supported son the pedestal fr-ame in closed position,as will 'be hereinafter more iully described.

Referring :now more specifically -to the draw-- ings, irthecent1=alpanel and drop leaves *3 '0! the table top are preferably made of *piy-boa-r'd onother --non-.warping materi-al I and each of the three=panels isstrengthened by' a marginal frame on itsunder side and also bya cross-rib-or 'ribs connecting the marginal *frame members. The centralpanel isreinforeed by 'reiatively'heavy cleats 24 on its under side, atits opposite ends, and also by a middle -'cleat "5, said cleatsafi'ordingw astabie support for the attachment oi'hinges 6, whichlatterare'in-turn attached to supporting 'bloeks 1 provided thereforonthe adjacent under sides of the drop leaves 3 in alignment withsaid-cleats land 5, respectively. Said central panel is'fur'therreinforcedonits under side and: near its opposite-ends'by'relativeiy-wider cleats: or blooks-fl to which flanged brackets 9are attached, said brackets 9 -having rigid guide rods or other suitableelongated =members 1-0 depending therfrom an'd slidably engagingthepedestal frame -2 as will presently more *fullyappear.

The :pedes'tal frame, as shown, comprises opposite end upright-s llwhich are carried by transverse -base members 42, said base members "l2being cross"connected by a pair of lower'horizontal irame members-l3,--while the uprights H are cross'connected by a -pairof spacedframemembers 4% which are =relatively flat and vertically disposedand-between which a horizontally disposed member 45 is-interpose'd andattached thereto so as to aflord -rig'i'dity:to':the" upper ;portion--of the frame structure, sald 'cross member F5 "being preferablymortised intothe uprights H "at its "opposite ends. As shown,-saidjcross member I5 is provided with 'vertical openings having elongatedbushings l6- secured therein-and sm-tably' braced in which bushingstheguide rods ilaonthe table top panel I are siidably iitted.

natheropened-rand set up: condition of thetable, the :central panel I:15 lowered to restbn the pedestal. frame .12, eat which ?time the dropdeal.

panels '3 are supported at their outer ends by leg members II which arehingedly attached to said leaves near the corners thereof. As shown, themounting for each of the leg members I I comprises an elongated bracketI8 which is secured, as at I9, to the adjacent marginal frame member ofthe leaf and having a rebent substantially U-shaped end portion 20abutting the adjacent right angular marginal frame member of the leaf,to which U-shaped portion of the bracket the leg member I1 is pivotallyattached, as at 2|. Further hinging of the leg member I'I, together witha bracing effect, is accomplished by providing an angular bracket 22 onthe marginal frame member against which the U-shape portion 20 of thebracket I8 abuts and at a point inwardly from said portion 20, saidbracket member 22 having the end portion 23 of a diagonal brace member24 hingedly attached thereto in axial alignment with the pivot 2I, saidbrace member 24 being attached at its opposite end tothe leg member I I,as at 25. By this provision, the leg member I! is readily foldableagainst the under side of the drop leaf panel 3 where it is releasablyheld by a conventional latch element 26 provided therefor on the sidemarginal frame member of the leaf (see Figure 7) while in its openedposition said leg member I] is braced laterally by the diagonal staymember 24. In order to brace the leg member I! in its opened positionand at right angles to the stay 24 so as to further steady the leg andprevent collapsing of the table, a brace member 21 is turned angularlyat one end and pivotally attached to the leg member, as at 28, theopposite end portion 29 of said brace member 21 being turned at a rightangle to the body portion and in the direction opposite to the portion28, said angular portion 29 working in a longitudinal slot 30 providedin an offset portion 3| of the elongated bracket member I8. In thefolded position of the leg member I! said end portion 23 of the bracemember 21 is located near the inner end of said slot 30 but in theopened position of the leg member said end portion 23 is pressed intoengagement with the lateral offset 32 at the outer end of said slot 30by a spring member 33 provided therefor on the offset portion 3| of thebracket I8. In this connection, it is noted that the angular portion 29of the brace member 21 is provided with a head 34 for retaining it inits working relation in said slot 33 of the bracket member I8.

When the table is in opened condition with the drop leaves 3 supportedat their outer ends on the-leg members II, the central panel I to whichthe inner end portions of the leaves 3 are .hingedly attached restssolidly on top of the'pedestal frame 2, that is to say, the cleats orblocks 8 on the under side of the panel I rest, crosswise directlyuponthe adjacent top portions of the pedestal frame members I4, while themiddleportion of the central cross cleat 5 on the under side of saidpanel I is cut away, as at 5, to reduce that portion of said cleat 5 tothe same thickness as the respective cleats orblocks 8, said cutawayportion 5 straddling and resting upon the adjacent middle portions of"said frame members I4.

' In the folded condition of the table, the center panelmember I israised above the pedestal frame 2 andthe drop'leaves 3, with the outersupporting legsv I'I folded back thereunder, are swung downwardly ontheir hinges 6 to vertical position oniopposite sides .of the pedestalframe 2 with their end portions resting on the transverse base membersI2 of said pedestal frame (see Figure 6). In lifting the center panelmember I it is guided by the rod members III sliding through theelongated bearings afforded by the bushings I6 in the upper horizontalmember I5 of the pedestal frame. Any suitable means may be provided forlimiting the upward movement of the panel I and prevent the withdrawalof the rods III entirely from said bushings I6. As shown, a flexibleconnecting element, such as a chain 35, is provided for the purpose,said chain 35 being conveniently attached at its lower end to the upperportion of the pedestal frame 2 and at its upper end to the under sideof the panel I, and being obviously of a length so that when drawn tautthe panel I is held against further upward movement with the lower endsof the rods I0 still within the bushings I6.

When the table is folded as shown in Figures 2 and 6, it is readilymovable from place to place, as the transverse base members I2 of thepedestal frame are mounted on suitable swiveled casters 36, while toreleasably hold the pedestal frame from movement on its supportingcasters 36 at the time the table is being opened and set up for use andalso while it is being folded, as well as during the time the table isin use, floorengaging devices of the character of conventional doorstops 31 may be provided on the lower end portions of the uprights I Iof said pedestal frame 2, these stops 31 each including the usualplunger 38 having a rubber or other suitable cushioning head 39 toengage the floor and the plunger being releasably held in its depressedposition by a releasable detent 40. V a

To facilitate the operation in opening and closing the table andminimize the physical labor required of the operator, the drop leaves 3are provided on their under sides near their outer margins with rollersM which ride on the floor during the swinging movement of the leaveswhile the center panel I is being moved vertically with relation to thepedestal frame 2. Preferably, these rollers 4| are mounted without anyswivel action upon blocks 42 provided therefor on the under side of theleaf 3 so that said rollers will track only in a straight line duringthe swinging movement of the leaf on its hinges 6, said rollers beingalso arranged in alignment with inclined panels 3 on to and from thebase members I2 while the operator is raising or lowering the centerpanel I, as the case' may be, and during which operation, of course, thestop members 31 have their plungers 38 operated to set the head portions39 in engagement with the floor so as to hold the pedestal frame againstmovement; As shown, the track members 43 have upturned end portions 44which serve as limiting stops against which the rollers 4I abut when thedrop leaves 3 are in their vertical folded position and resting on theadjacent end portions of the transverse base members I2 of the pedestalframe (see Figure 6).

It is here noted that in the folded condition of the table with the dropleaves 3 resting on the 1' transverse base members I2 of the pedestalframe, the flexible chain 35 is not fully tautened but is slightlyslackened so as to permit the slight upward movement of the center panelI to permit the leaves 3 to be readily eased on" the base membersI2,-after which the center panel I is lowered and the rollers 4 I ride.downwardly on the inclined trackmembers .43 and thence on the ifloor;away from :said track members-until the! center .panel I is brought torest upon the top .of the pedestal frame ,2. .Then, with '.the panel I.supported on the pedestalframe .and said frame held against movement onthe floor by the application .ofthestop elements .31, it is aneasymatter toswing the drop leaves upwardly on their hinges 6 and unfoldthe leg members I1 and lock them in position'to support the outer endsof said leaves 3. By the same token it is an easy matter to fold thetable-by first collapsing the leg members I"! and locking them in foldedposition under the drop leaves 3 and then lower the outer end portionsof said leaves to the floor, after which it is only necessary to liftthe center panel I from the pedestal frame 2, during which operation theouter end portions of the leaves move inwardly towards the pedestalframe with the rollers 4I riding first on the fioor and then up theinclined trackways 43 and against the stop portions 44 on top of thebase members I2 of said pedestal frame 2, the flexible stop element orchain 35 being, of course, fully tautened while the leaves 3 areswinging onto the frame base members I2, and the center panel I beingfinally eased downwardly until the leaves 30 3 are supportingly engagedwith said base members I2.

By the foregoing it is seen that a foldable table structure is producedwhich permits the use of a comparatively narrow center panel for thetable top and a pair of one-piece drop leaves which are each muchgreater in width from hinged end to free outer end than the height ofthe table when set up for use, whereby the table top is of amplifiedworking length when the table is set up and at the same time the tablecan be folded compactly and in such a manner as to be quickly and easilyremoved from the location in which it is used to a small storage space.Animportant advantage in the provision of the relatively wide one-piecedrop leaf is the elimination of seams and the presentation of anunbroken surface area whichmakes the table especially adaptable for theplaying of table tennis or ping-pong in that the net may be stretchedacross the narrow central panel I and the seam where the drop leaf ishinged to said central panel being located so close to the net thatthere is little, if any, possible interference thereby in the naturalrebound or deflection of the ball when batted into contact with theplaying surface of the table during the play.

Obviously, if desired, suitable power means may be provided on thepedestalframe 2 for raisingand lowering the center panel I andconsiderable modification may be made in the general structure of thetable and parts thereof within the spirit and scope of the invention asdeestal frame, said drop leaf panels havingfoldable legs at theirouterends 'forP supporting said panels in opened position and in horizontalalignment withsaidcenter panel in its loweredpositionon saidpedestalframe, said dropleaf panels, with their supporting legs foldedthereunder, being supported inftheir folded position upon saidpedestalframe and supporting said center panel in itsraised position.

"2.71m a folding :table, a transverse pedestal frame, a relativelynarrow centraltabletop panel having depending guide members slidablymounted on said pedestal'frame whereby to guide said panel'in up anddown vertical movement onsaid frame, -:said 1 panel in its loweredposition being supported on said pedestal frame, relatively wide dropleaf panels hingedly attached at their inner ends to said central panel,said drop leaf panels having foldable legs at their outer ends forsupporting them in open position and in horizontal alignment with saidcentral panel in the lowered position of the latter, said drop leafpanels in their closed position, being supported at their lower ends onsaid pedestal frame, roller elements provided and arranged on said dropleaf panels to ride on the floor during part of the opening and closingmovement of said panels, and opposed inclined trackways on said pedestalframe located adjacent the floor for guiding said roller elements ontoand from said pedestal frame.

3. In a folding table, a central supporting frame, a central table toppanel mounted on said supporting frame with vertical movement andsupported directly on said frame in its lowered position, and a pair ofrelatively wide drop leaf panels hingedly attached at their inner endsto said central panel on opposite sides thereof, said drop leaf panelshaving provision at their outer ends for supporting them in horizontalopened position in alignment with said central panel in its loweredposition, said drop leaf panels in vertical closed position resting withtheir outer ends on the base portion of said central supporting framewith the central table top panel supported thereby above said supportingframe.

4. In a folding table, a transverse pedestal frame, said frame beingmounted on supporting casters and having releasable floor-engaging stopmeans for holding said frame against movement on the floor, a centralrelatively narrow table top panel having depending guide members mountedslidably on said pedestal frame whereby said panel may be raised andlowered, said panel in its lowered position resting directly on saidpedestal frame, a pair of relatively wide drop leaf panels hingedlyattached at their inner ends to the opposite sides of said centralpanel, foldable legs at the outer ends of said drop leaf panels forsupporting said panels in horizontal opened position and in cooperativerelation to said central panel in its lowered position, releasablebracing means for holding the legs of said drop leaf panels in theiropened position, means for releasably holding said legs in closedposition under said drop leaf panels, roller elements provided andarranged on said panels to ride on the floor during part of the openingand closing movement of the latter, and inclined trackways on oppositesides of the base portion of said pedestal frame adjacent the fioo-r forguiding said roller elements onto and from said pedestal frame, saidtrackways having stop members at their inner ends for arresting saiddrop leaves in their folding movement upon the pedestal frame, said dropleaves in their vertical closed position being supported with theirouter ends on said pedestal frame and in turn supporting said centraltable top panel in its raised position above said frame.

5. In a folding table, a pedestal frame comprising vertical end members,transverse base members at the lower ends of said vertical members,cross connecting members at the upper ends of said vertical members,vertical guide bushings on said upper cross members of the pedestalframe, a central table top panel having depending guide rods fittedslidably in said bushings on the pedestal frame, said table top panel inits lowered position resting upon said pedestal frame, means forlimiting the upward movement of said panel, a pair of relatively widedrop leaf panels hingedly attached at their inner ends to said centralpanel, said drop leaf panels in vertical closed position being supportedwith their outer ends upon the transverse base portions of said pedestalframe, foldable leg members on said drop leaves for supporting them inhorizontal opened position and in cooperative working relation to saidcentral panel in its lowered position, roller elements on said drop leafpanels to ride on the floor during part of the opening and closingmovement of said panels, and means for guiding said roller elements ontoand from the transverse base portions of said pedestal frame.

- WALTER W. SWE'I'I.

